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Home • News

Def Jam Executive Commits Suicide in Georgia Home

 
By Essence · Updated October 29, 2020
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Shakir Stewart, who succeeded Jay-Z as the head of hip-hop music label Def Jam Recordings, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Saturday, reports the Associated Press. Stewart was discovered Saturday afternoon in the bathroom of his home in the Atlanta suburb of Marietta, Cobb County. Police would not say who found Stewart, but did confirm it was a self-inflicted wound.
Stewart signed such artists as Beyoncé, Ciara, Rick Ross and Young Jeezy to various labels before his promotion to Def Jam’s Executive Vice-President post in June.
Christopher Hicks, a friend of 18 years and fellow music executive, last spoke with Stewart about a week ago, according to the Associated Press.
“Whatever happened over the past 24 hours is not a testament to who we all know,” Hicks told the newspaper. “He was a one-of-a-kind individual.”

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